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UNITED NATIONS, July 17 (Xinhua) – A representative of the United Nations on Tuesday urged member states to support the humanitarian response and revitalization of West Africa and the Sahel.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, made the remarks while informing the Security Council of the recent activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), as well as developments in the field. He added that violence between farmers and pastoralists was increasingly a major threat to security and could turn into terrorist attacks that defined the security landscape.
In this context, he stressed that these security challenges must be accompanied by the implementation of comprehensive strategies linking security and humanitarian interventions to development and human rights. According to other recent developments, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has increased during the reporting period, drug trafficking and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, including by terrorist groups, constituting major threats.
Since the last time that he has addressed the Council, a positive movement on the democratization front has competed with the volatile security situation of the region.
In the Sahel and in the Lake Chad Basin, the fallout from the Malian crisis is affecting Burkina Faso more and more. Niger and terrorist groups continue to wreak havoc throughout the region.
"The complexity of recent attacks is a disturbing result of the West African and Sahelian Islamist groups strengthening their ties," he said, adding that local insurrections are spreading and exacerbating
Expressing concern over alleged violations human rights committed by security forces in the region, urged its governments to prevent such violations and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In the Lake Chad Basin, despite the progress made by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Joint Multi-National Force launched by the five countries that make up the Working Group. Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel), Boko Haram and the West African province of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant remain active
On July 1, an attack in Niger killed 10 soldiers from that country , and Boko Haram Calling for increased and holistic support for diplomatic, security and humanitarian responses to Boko Haram, he said that UNOWAS is providing technical support to a joint summit of the Economic Community of the States of the United States. West Africa (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on this subject on 30 July.
Describe environmental degradation and socioeconomic marginalization, affecting some 45 million people. According to him, about 2.3 million people remain displaced by the global effects of insecurity, governance and climate change.
Stressing a resurgence of popular discontent in the region, manifested by often violent demonstrations calling for political and political decisions. He also urged Member States to create an environment conducive to the exercise of the freedoms of expression and badembly, which are essential for the consolidation of democracy and good governance, and notes that, in a positive development, Benin and Burkina Faso have recently abolished the death penalty.
The region has continued on a positive trajectory since its last briefing. in Guinea, the local and municipal elections in The Gambia, and the presidential, legislative and local elections in Sierra L Noting that the ongoing political crisis in Togo has already caused the suspension of legislative elections, he highlighted the ECOWAS mediation efforts for overcome the political impbade, warning that "the democratic gains in the region are not immune from overthrow".
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